After El Clásico, the main clash in the Spanish championship, the rivalries haven't subsided. Former Real Madrid midfielder and German legend Tony Kroos is among those who commented this time.
In his opinion, Barcelona head coach Hans-Dieter Flick made a serious mistake in choosing the squad, and this decision influenced the outcome.
"I don't understand why Flick put Eric Garcia on the field in the starting lineup. Technically, he wasn't bad, but physically, he was completely unsuitable for this game. El Clásico is not only tactics, but also physical wrestling. At that moment, a strong defender like Ronald Araujo should have been on the field," Kroos said.
He emphasized that Araujo was the most suitable candidate against fast-forwards like Vinicius and Mbappé. Barcelona's loss of physical superiority through this decision ultimately created opportunities for Real Madrid.
"I personally consider this a surprising decision. If you have an anti-missile Araujo like Vinicius, why not use it? Flick made a tactical mistake here, and it cost the team dearly," the former German star added.
As is known, Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at the El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu, moving five points away from their opponent in the league table.
At the same time, Hans-Dieter Flick did not manage the game from the sidelines - he controlled El Clásico from a distance after receiving a red card in the previous round. He was replaced on the bench by assistant coach Marcus Zorg.
Many football analysts agree with Kroos, emphasizing that Barcelona's errors in central defense gave the opponent great opportunities.
After this defeat, the path to the championship became even more difficult for the Catalans - the team now has to struggle not only with Real Madrid but also with internal pressure.
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